BRIDGE Act introduced to leverage private transportation investment

Sen. Warner is flanked by co-sponsors of the BRIDGE Act.Office of Sen. Mark Warner

A bipartisan coalition of 10 senators introduced legislation to establish a new infrastructure financing authority to help states and localities better leverage private funds to build and maintain the nation's outdated infrastructure, including rail.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), a lead sponsor of the bill said the Building and Renewing Infrastructure for Development and Growth in Employment Act (BRIDGE Act), helps to address the nation's alarming investment shortfall in maintaining and improving its transportation network, water and wastewater systems and energy infrastructure. The legislation would provide an additional financing tool for states and localities, which can create new jobs while also increasing the nation's economic competitiveness.

"The BRIDGE Act is not a 'silver bullet' to magically close America's infrastructure gap, but this bipartisan proposal creates smart new tools to help our states and localities unlock billions of dollars in additional private investments at a time of very favorable interest rates," Sen. Warner said. "The BRIDGE Act will not only put Virginians and Americans back to work but also help to expand U.S. commerce and trade, keeping American businesses competitive and creating even more jobs here at home. The BRIDGE Act demonstrates our willingness to work together in a responsible, bipartisan way to get moving on important investment priorities."

"Infrastructure has long been an integral part of our economy. Successful transportation systems connect people and communities and businesses large and small and the jobs they create, rely on a strong infrastructure network to connect with their customers," Sen. Blunt said. "This bipartisan legislation will provide a new tool to help finance infrastructure projects, create jobs and ensure America's global competitiveness in the 21st Century."

The coalition said America currently spends roughly two percent of its GDP on infrastructure, about half what it did 50 years ago. By comparison, Europe spends around five percent and China spends nine percent of GDP on infrastructure. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report, the United States currently ranks 19th among 148 developed countries in overall infrastructure compared to our global competitors.

To begin addressing this shortfall, the BRIDGE Act will establish an independent, nonpartisan financing authority to complement existing U.S. infrastructure funding. The authority would provide loans and loan guarantees to help states and localities fund the most economically viable road, bridge, rail, port, water, sewer and other significant infrastructure projects. The authority would receive initial seed funding of up to $10 billion, which could incentivize private sector investment and make possible up to $300 billion in total project investment. The authority is structured in a way to make it self-sustaining over time.

Projects would have to be at least $50 million in size and be of national or regional significance to qualify. Five percent of the authority's overall funding would be dedicated to projects in rural regions and rural projects would be required to be $10 million in size.

The authority would finance no more than 49 percent of the total costs of the project in order to avoid crowding out private capital. Loans and loan guarantees would be subject to modest additional fees, which will allow the authority to quickly become self-sustaining over time.

The coalition said having project finance experts in-house will help states and localities go toe-to-toe with private sector partners to ensure that taxpayers are getting good value for our investments through public-private partnerships. The authority would operate independently of existing federal agencies, led by a board of directors with seven voting members and a CEO, all of whom would be required to demonstrate proven expertise in financial management and be confirmed by a vote of the Senate.

"Innovative approaches to infrastructure financing are becoming increasingly important in this time of limited public resources," said Kathleen Ambrose, senior vice president for government affairs, Siemens Corporation. "Siemens sees legislation, such as the [BRIDGE] Act, as having the potential to play an important role in broadening the options available to leverage private and public sector infrastructure investments across the country. We believe this type of forward-looking legislation can help drive precisely the kinds of infrastructure investment and job creation that America needs."